The United States has clarified that its help in Taiwan's relief against typhoon Morakot is humanitarian and non-official assistance, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said early Wednesday.

US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley was quoted by Taiwan media as saying that the US help to Taiwan was out of humanitarian concern and it was unnecessary for the United States to inform China beforehand.

Qin said that China has been informed clearly that the assistance is humanitarian aid to Taiwan in a non-official way.

Morakot killed at least 127 people by Tuesday morning, and more than 500 villagers had been buried alive in mudslides. More than 300 people were still missing and 45 were injured.

(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2009)